Rare painting of Dasmesh Guru

Every artist has his/her interpretation of a subject and the Sikh Gurus have been painted by artists from from various religious backgrounds, no wonder the sometimes extremely strange depictions – just like the one of Guru Gobind Singh Ji below. The overly exagerated kalgi, green clothing and seating posture comes as a completely different image of the Guru that we are relatively accustomed to. Nevertheless, the painting is indeed beautiful. Because Sikh Gurus never encouraged the painting of the their portraits during their lifetime, admirers and devotees were left to put to canvas the image conjured through years of folk-lore, imagination and fond stories. That’s why almost all artists depict the Sikh Gurus differently – they painted them with what appeased their imaginations. At least through their interpretations, we get a glimpse of just how our Gurus may have looked like, though the images do not necessarily depict the exact picture – no one can actually paint the true ambiance of the Guru for that can only be done in the conscience of the true admirer and devotee. And the conscience can never be put to words or pictures, it can only be experienced by the blessed individual.

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16 Comments

Here comes another beautiful piece of art from your collection!Its just so beautiful, even though quite different from the paintings one usually comes across.i agree with what you said, “And the conscience can never be put to words or pictures, it can only be experienced by the blessed individual.”

In this painting and in thousands of others, an artist does put down his/her imagination,feelings and so much more & all we do is wonder at such works of love,devotion and perhaps ‘vairaag’!

Sobha Singh is one such artist who’s beautiful works on the Sikh Gurus adorns every house.especially his paintings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

My apologies for my ignorance. It’s just that all the paintings I have seen, the Kalgis depicted are comparativelly smaller and found this painting to be ‘outside’ the already accepted norm. I do sincerely believe that the kalgi in this painting could indeed be a variation of the types the Guru wore. Any possibility of getting an image of the kalgi you mentioned?

satnam
I’m working at designing a kalgi for the 300 year celebration later this year-could you please email me a link or some images/paintings of any unusual and particularly interesting kalgis- thanks Jot Singh

Satinder said,

Gurfateh,
The Kalgi of Guru Gobind Singh Ji has now reached in India. The process to bring this back was started in 1999 by Sant Darshan Singh Khalsa of Dhakki Sahib Maksudra, who heads Intenational Shiromani Sant Khalsa Foundation. Kamaljit singh boparai was following the corresponence on the foundation’s behalf.

Let’s try to bring all the heritage related toSikh Guru’s in India and get guru’s blessings.

m said,

bogus kalgi said,

It is not the actual Kalgi worn by Honourable Guruji and just a stunt to collect money by religious sentiments. We must beware of such tactics and such wrong persons, who are playing with our sentiments and those too related with our Most beloved Guruji. chhinderpal singh punjab